Context

• US health officials are now monitoring over 200 people in the United States for monkeypox after an individual who traveled from Nigeria to Texas earlier this month was diagnosed with the disease.
• The first case of monkeypox was discovered in 1958 in a colony of monkeys that were being used to research, hence the “monkey” part of the name.

Details

• Monkeypox is a viral zoonotic disease that occurs primarily in tropical rainforest areas of Central and West Africa and is occasionally exported to other regions.
• It is caused by monkeypox virus, a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus in the family Poxviridae.
• Monkeypox belongs to the same family of viruses as smallpox. But Smallpox had a higher fatality rate than monkeypox.
• Smallpox was declared eradicated worldwide in 1980.
• Monkeypox is characterised by flu-like symptoms and swelling of the lymph nodes, which gradually progresses to a widespread rash all over the face and body.
• Monkeypox virus is mostly transmitted to people from wild animals such as rodents and primates, but human-to-human transmission also occurs.
• It spreads from one person to another via respiratory droplets.
• The first case of monkeypox in humans was recorded in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo during a period of intensified effort to eliminate smallpox.
• Scientists have so far discovered two distinct genetic groups of monkeypox virus—Central African and West African.
• There is currently no specific treatment recommended for monkeypox.
• Vaccination against smallpox was about 85% effective in preventing monkeypox.
• Thus, prior childhood smallpox vaccination may result in a milder disease course.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/science/rare-but-not-alarming-all-you-need-to-know-about-monkeypox-found-in-texas-101626528170261.html

Download PDF